Mini fridge vs. beverage cooler: running cost
A mini fridge is cheaper to run: about $49 a year versus $63 for a beverage cooler at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $14 difference.
| Mini fridge | Beverage cooler | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 80 W | 100 W |
| Watt range | 50–120 W | 60–180 W |
| Typical use | 270 kWh a year | 350 kWh a year |
| Energy per year | 270 kWh | 350 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.6¢ | 0.7¢ |
| Cost per day | 13¢ | 17¢ |
| Cost per month | $4.05 | $5.25 |
| Cost per year | $49 | $63 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $117 | $152 |
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What drives the difference
- Mini fridge: Compact refrigerators of 1.7-4.5 cu ft use roughly 200-350 kWh a year; ENERGY STAR models sit near the low end. Small skincare/thermoelectric 4-6 liter coolers are separate and draw about 40-60 W constantly.
- Beverage cooler: A residential 100-150 can glass-door beverage cooler typically uses 250-450 kWh a year; glass doors leak more heat than solid doors.
Ways to cut either cost
ENERGY STAR compact models use at least 10% less than the federal minimum and many are under 250 kWh a year.
See options on AmazonA solid insulated door loses far less heat than a glass door, cutting use by roughly a quarter.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a mini fridge or a beverage cooler?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a beverage cooler costs about $63 a year versus $49 for a mini fridge. That's $14 more, or 1.3× as much.
How many watts do mini fridge and beverage cooler use?
A mini fridge typically draws 80 W (range 50–120 W). A beverage cooler draws 100 W (range 60–180 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.